Chapter 1: Broken Beginnings (Part 1)

"Hurry up, Sam! We're going to be late!", a voice yelled from downstairs, in a slight panic.

"Keep your shirt on, Karla! I'll be down in a minute! Gosh!", Samantha replied.

Samantha hastily tried to brush her long brown hair, while attempting to put her shoes on, and finish putting on her makeup. Gravity, patience and Karla wasn't on her side …and she knew it.

"Hot damn!", Sam said while falling face first on her carpet, skinning her chin slightly.

"What are you DOING up there, Sammy?! We are GOING to be LATE!", Karla said in an even more frantic tone.

"I fell!", Sam screamed at her sister.

"Well stop falling and hurry up! I am not trying to miss this movie because you can't get ready on time like everyone else!"

Sam brushed off her sister's words and got up. The stinging bruise on her chin was small and unnoticeable, but at the same time, it hurt like no other. She slid into her shoes as she finished putting her hair into a ponytail. Quickly tying her shoes, Sam ran down the hallway, hopped on the banister and slid down the rail, landing directly in front of Karla.

"Good. Now we can go", Karla said in a monotonous tone while grabbing her car keys.

"Oh, how are you feeling, Sam? I'm doing GREAT, Karla! THANKS FOR ASKING!", Sam yelled whilst flailing her arms wildly.

Karla turned and looked at her little sister in an almost disturbed glance. "Are you finished trying to make me have a mental overload, or are you just getting started?"

"Do I win a prize if I successfully piss you off in some bizarre way?", Sam said with a slight smirk on her face.

Karla just looked at Samantha, and tossed her coat onto her head as she walked out the front door. She could already feel her headache coming, even though she was about to do something fun.

"Yeesh, some people just can't take a joke these days.", Sam said while closing the door behind her.

Karla and Samantha got into the car. No sooner as Karla started the car, Sam was busy trying to find a radio station to listen to during the trip to the theater. Karla just ignored it and drove the car. Karla knew that while at times her younger sister flat out irritated her, she was, in fact, proud of her. Samantha recently got a job in Washington, and was moving there in a few days. Karla wanted her last days in New York to be special.

"So Sammy, are you nervous about moving to Washington at all? I mean, it's a huge city, and we won't be there like we are now…", Karla asked with a serious tone.

"Well, kind of. I mean, I am looking forward to the experience and all that jazz, but, a part of me doesn't want to leave New York. I might feel a little home sick.", Sam said with a slight sadness in her voice.

"Oh come on Sam, it's not going to be that bad. I know you're excited to go off into the world on your own a little. Think of it as a new chapter in your life, sis."

"Yeah I know. I guess I will just miss everyone. You, mom, dad, James. It feels weird not being close to the family, you know, Karla? It's almost like I am abandoning you in some way…"

"I can understand that Sam. But you know we are all proud of what you've accomplished so far. Hell, I know I'm proud of you, kid.", Karla said with a sincere smile on her face.

"Thanks, K. That means a lot to me", Sam said smiling

"No problem, sis. Just don't tell James. He'll NEVER let me hear the end of it"

Samantha and Karla both laughed at that remark and finally arrived at the theater. They made their way to the ticket booth and paid for their tickets. As they stepped inside the theater, Sam made her way to the concession stand line, with Karla close behind.

"Are you getting anything, Karla?", Sam asked.

"Just a soda and some popcorn", Karla replied.

As Sam and Karla made their way to either side of the stand, they began to get their snacks before heading into the theater.

"Welcome to the Kerasotes Theater! Can I help you?", the concession crew stated to each customer that awaited movie treats.

"I'd like a small popcorn and a medium Mountain Dew, please", Karla told her clerk.

"Anything else, ma'am?", the young clerk said.

"No, that's fine", Karla replied.

"That'll be $4.59 please"

As Karla was paying for her snacks, Sam was in the other line preparing to order hers.

"So sorry for the wait. Welcome to the Kerasotes Theater! How can I help you?", the clerk said proudly.

"OK, check this out, chief", Sam said with a almost urban twang. "I would like a large popcorn, a large Hi-C orange, some nachos with an insane amount of cheese, 2 hot dogs, 2 soft pretzels, some gummi fish, some gummi bears, some gummi worms and…some reese's cups."

The clerk was taken aback at the order slightly. Samantha was fit in a physical sense, and the amount of junk she ordered just made the clerk twitch. He began to ring up her order.

"Um…that'll be $27.32 please", the clerk said with a look of amazement on his face.

Sam paid for her purchase, got her change, grabbed her tray of snacks, and made her way towards Karla. Karla wanted so badly to ask what possessed her sister to get so much junk, but, she remained quiet. Very quiet.

"What?", Sam asked her sister with a confused tone in her voice.

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all…", Karla said with a blank expression on her face.

Karla and Samantha made their way to the back of the theater, and found two empty seats next to each other. As they got comfortable in the seats, the movie previews began playing on the screen. 10 minutes or so passed, and Sam was working on her 2nd soft pretzel, her gummi bears, and the last few bites of her hot dog.

"Good grief, Sam…", Karla said with disgust. "You're going to make yourself sick eating so fast."

"What? I was hungry!", Sam said with her mouth slightly full.

"Chew. Swallow. Then we can resume our conversation. Thanks a bunch.", Karla said with a monotonously disgusted tone.

"I can't help that I need to feed my sexiness", Sam said with a wide smile looming across her face.

"I swear, moments like this make me FURTHUR think that you really ARE adopted…", Karla said with a slight smile on her face.

"Oh shut up!", Sam said, while throwing a few gummi bears at her older sister.

After a few laughs, the two sat back and enjoyed the movie playing on the screen. A few hours go by, and the movie ends. The two sisters make their way back to the car, while checking missed phone calls and text messages. They entered the car, buckled up, and made their way back home. En route home, Sam dozed off in the back seat from all the excitement…and the full stomach. About 20 minutes later, Karla stopped the car and began waking Sam up.

"Sam? SAM!", Karla yelled.

"Huh….wha…? What are you yelling at me for?", Sam said while rubbing her eyes.

"I will be right back. I forgot I needed to pick up some things from the store for dad. Can you watch the car?"

"Yeah…go for it.", Sam said sleepily.

Karla made her way into the corner market and began grabbing the items needed. Sam eventually dozed back off in the back seat of the car. As Karla was finishing up her shopping, two young men came into the store. They approached the counter simultaneously, while one of the men asked for some cigarettes. As soon as the clerk put the cigarettes on the counter, the other young man pulled a gun out on the clerks.

"ALL RIGHT GET THE FUCK DOWN, NOW! THIS IS A STICK UP! EVERYONE GET DOWN ON THE FUCKING GROUND NOW!", one of the men yelled out.

The patrons in the store got down and hid, trying not to be seen or heard. Karla dropped her groceries and dove behind the sodas. She was shaking hard under her coat, and she feared the worst. She didn't know what to do. She quietly snuck and peaked her head around the corner of the aisle to see what was happening.

"HURRY UP WITH THAT MONEY, ASSHOLE!", one of the men screamed at the lady frantically stuffing the bag with money from the register.

The other robber was surveying the store, looking for something else to steal, as well as scaring the patrons who quietly plead for their lives. Karla knew she had to get out of that store, or at least let the police know. She quietly reached for her cell phone and dialed 911.

"9-1-1. What's your emergency?", the lady asked.

"Yes, hi, my name is Karla Campbell, and I am at the corner of 158th St. and Lennox Ave at the Mama's Corner Store. It's being-"

Before Karla could finish her plea, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, and she fell flat on the floor.

"Well, I'll be damned…", the robber said while stomping on Karla's cell phone. "Hey Felix! We got us a live bitch back here! She tried calling the heat on us!"

"SHIT!", the robber screamed as he pointed the gun at the clerks behind the counter.

Without hesitation, Felix shot the 2 clerks in the chest and told his partner to book it.

"Hurry up Tony! Move your ass! And bring that bitch with you!"

Tony grabbed Karla by the arm and dragged her into an upright position. As the robbers made their way outside, they were panicked in trying to find a way to escape. Felix grabbed Karla's face and demanded to know where she parked her car, if she drove. Karla couldn't utter a word due to the sheer paralyzing fear of the situation. Felix lost his patience and smacked Karla across the face with the back of his hand, while Tony held her arms behind her. Karla whimpered from the impact, and just whimpered towards the green car parked on the street.

Unbeknownst to Sam, who was sleeping in the back seat, she had no clue as to what was going on at that moment. Felix felt up on Karla, looking for keys, and found them in her front pants pocket. The trio made their way to Karla's car. Felix opened the driver's side and opened the passenger side from inside the car. Tony then shoved Karla into the car and slammed the door. Sam snorted slightly and began to wake up slowly. Tony got into the back seat and pulled his gun out on Sam.

"Karla? Why are you sitting on the wrong side of the car?", Sam asked while rubbing her eyes.

Sam sat up slowly and immediately found herself staring into the barrel of the gun Tony had pointing directly at her face.

"If either of you broads scream, her brains are going to repaint this car. I shit you not.", Tony said with a fierce tone in his voice.

Sam began to break down and cry as her and her sister were being driven around the city, unsure of where they would end up, either alive or dead. Guns were pointed at both of their heads and the tears flowed freely from those same faces.

"Hey Tony. You feel like you need to get some action, right?"

"Yeah, I could use a nightcap Felix", Tony said with a smugness in his voice.

Karla and Samantha had no idea what was going to happen, but they knew where they were headed. Felix turned into a dark alleyway in a dead end section of the Red Light District. Felix stopped the car, and dragged Karla out of the driver's side door.

"Now cutie…let's see what you can do…", Tony said with an evil smirk on his face.

Tony kicked Sam dead in the chest, causing her to stumble out of the car and land on the concrete floor. Tony grabbed Sam's cell that fell between the seat, and made a quick phone call.

*ring*

*ring*

*click* "Yeah?"

"Hey Two-tone. Grab the boys and meet me and Felix at the Juniper Ave. Alley in Red Light. You ain't gonna believe the broads we got."

"Good stuff, huh?"

"Flawless curves man…"

"Keep em busy, and we'll be there soon."

"You got it"

Tony got out of the car and walked towards Felix, who was having his way with Karla.

"Yo Felix, I just passed a message to Two-tone to meet us here with the boys. We're gonna have some fun with these chicks."

"Sounds good to me Tony", Felix said as he pushed Karla onto the concrete.

Karla crawled frantically towards Samantha, and embraced her tightly as she cried. The two had no idea what dangers were just around the corner, but they knew they wouldn't be slow in coming. For at that moment, the both heard multiple car doors closing behind them…

To Be Continued...